You know the rules around here. No Netflix, no HBO, no Amazon Prime. It doesn’t mean we can’t talk about what they’re producing, but by golly Jove if you give them a dime or dollar from the flip of your coin purse you’ll be put upon a road of glass propaganda to which your soul will be dragged. That being said, The Third Day looks like a fetching limited series on HBO.
The two and a half minute trailer sets up a tense scenario featuring Jude Law, who travels to a remote village across a causeway typically covered by a river you can’t cross. The trailer depicts the town as picturesque; an idyllic place of healing and mirth.
However, like all things too good to be true where the eyes lay yonder on green pastures that promise the flow of milk and honey, a damned devil lay beneath the roots of bliss like thorns hiding behind a rose bush.
After the honeymoon period of being enthralled with the placid lifestyle and airy atmosphere of the isle, Jude Law attempts to depart, only he’s a little late and the road out of the town is washed away by the rising river.
Stuck on the island, Jude Law begins to uncover some dark secrets held by the little town.
The trailer does a superb job of not giving a darn thing away, and I love it for that reason.
A slow ramp up of tension without giving away any twists makes The Third Day look terribly intriguing. The brief glimpses of images of what looks like satanic practices leads us to believe potential human sacrifices are on the table.
Not readily revealing the menace behind the anxiety is what leads the imagination to run wild with the possibilities of what’s really bubbling beneath the surface of this seemingly quaint little town.
Many of the commenters noted that it reminded them of A24’s sleeper-hit Hereditary, starring Toni Collette. But more observant cinephiles were quick to note that it seemed more reminiscent of Robin Hardy’s 1973 slow-burn horror film, The Wicker Man.
Again, I’m not advocating for getting HBO or checking out their streaming services, but I did think that this little limited series from Plan B looks enticing for a psychological-thriller. The series is set to premiere on May 8th, 2020 on HBO.